'World's most expensive' Ferrari headed to auction

A world's record for the most expensive car ever sold at public auction, set in 2014, is poised to be broken.

The record was set at a Carmel auction, during the annual Monterey Car Week, when the gavel came down on a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO at just under $38 million, including auction costs and fees.

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It may be broken Feb. 5 in Paris when the bidding opens on an Artcurial Motorcars auction of a 1957 Ferrari 335 Sport Scaglietti. The car bears an estimated sale price of $34.745 million. With fees, that rate could exceed the GTO's high-water mark.

The Ferrari has historical significance. It was raced to a checkered flag by British Formula One champion Stirling Moss at the Cuban Grand Prix in 1958.

Other collectible cars could draw big bids. Also on auction will be a 1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta, estimated to go for about $13 million; a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet, said to be worth $1.95 million; a 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C that could draw as much as $1.7 million; and a 1963 Aston Martin DB4 that could bring up to $1.6 million.

Also on the block, which will include online bidding handled by Invaluable.com, are more than 100 other vintage and modern classic cars, including interesting autos by Delahaye, Talbot-Lago and Facel Vega.

Jonathan Klinger, of the classic car valuation and insurance company Hagerty, called the Moss Ferrari "an important car" and said it could be a record-breaker.

"It has documented race history, and Stirling Moss is very famous and still alive," he said. "That adds to the provenance of the car. This is a desirable Ferrari, in the hierarchy of Ferraris."